Catching Up with Lightning Pro Scout And Former Devils Player Stephen Gionta

If you do this job long enough as I have, there are some nights where you never know who you’re going to run into. Whether it’s a former player turned GM, broadcaster, or scout, there is always a chance you’ll see someone you know, or know of, or watched play when you were growing up. Recently at the Prudential Center, I had the pleasure of running into an old friend – former New Jersey Devils fourth-liner Stephen Gionta, who’s currently scouting for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Gionta played a total of 14 seasons in pro hockey, 301 NHL games with the New Jersey Devils (270) and New York Islanders (31), and 437 games in the AHL (Albany River Rats, Lowell Devils, Albany Devils, and Bridgeport Sound Tigers) since turning pro in 2006 after four years at Boston College.

He’s likely best remembered for his (game-winning) goal against Ottawa in the season finale at the end of the 2011-12 season. Prior to that, he had played in 12 NHL games, and was pointless. After that, he played in all 24 playoff games with the Devils as a part of the Devs’ fourth line/theCBGB line (with Ryan Carter and Steve Bernier) when they advanced to the 2012 Cup Final.

Lightning Strikes Deal with Gionta

These days, Gionta is in year three of his non-playing career as a pro scout for the Lightning in the northeastern part of the US. “I cover from DC to about Columbus. So I’m in and out of Jersey, Long Island, MSG, Philly…all the same buildings that I played in so often,” he told Pucks and Pitchforks, and that he enjoys coming back to his old stomping grounds.

“I actually texted my wife when I came in tonight that it’s still weird coming back in here (as a retired player). There’s still a lot of the same security and the same staff. It’s nice to catch up with everyone, and yeah it’s still a little different watching games here,” he explained. “It’s fun though, I get to see the people that matter when you’re playing and they’re still here, you get to keep those relationships going.”

So how did Gionta get into this current gig that wasn’t the job that he interviewed for? “When I stopped playing I interviewed with Tampa for a job that was more on the college side of things,” he revealed. “We talked about it for a while and then collectively decided that scouting the pro game was probably better. This is the start of my third season with the Lightning. Right place, right time,” he added with a chuckle.

Bling Bling

You can say that again. Guy plays parts of eight NHL seasons and gets to a Stanley Cup Final once, retires, and now can call himself a back-to-back champion. Not too shabby for an undrafted 5’7” kid from Rochester, New York who has some new bling.

“Yup, I got two rings. Got a day with the Cup down in Florida because it couldn’t travel the first time, and then this last one I had it with me up in Rochester, which was nice,” he said smiling through his mask.

So did he let big brother Brian touch the Cup or Nah? “Nope. Haha!”

“No, we took a really nice picture with the two of us holding it together. It was nice to share it with him and his family as well. To bring it home and share it with the people you love, and your friends, it’s great.”

There may be other jobs down the line that Gionta pursues, but for the time being he’s very happy and enjoying what he does in the areas that he’s in. “I like what I’m doing now, the organization has been unbelievable to my family and me,” he said, “this is what I see for the foreseeable future. It allows me to still be home with the kids. I have certain requirements (amount of games to attend), but can still make my own schedule sort of so I can be around for the things at home that I need to be there for.”

“Pro scouting with them…I still get summers off haha, you’re on the hockey schedule – which I’m certainly used to from the last 15-16 years. So it’s nice to kind of keep that same schedule.”

Deal with the Devils

Tampa made a lot of big moves to get to the part of the story where they won two Cups (in less than a year), but the former Devil wouldn’t take any credit for the Lightning making a big trade with New Jersey a few years ago.

“We go by committee. We’re all watching, sharing ideas, and info with each other while trying to create a path that helps the team,” he explained. “Some of the stuff has worked out (the last two years).”

C’mon bro, you had to have had a hand in the Lightning acquiring Blake Coleman from the Devils!

“I actually remember Blake at a rookie camp (here in New Jersey), which was the only time I was at one of those. (GM) Lou (Lamoriello) asked me – I was 27, already had one kid and my wife was pregnant – he asked me to come in to be that veteran presence among the younger guys,” Gionta told us. “So Blake was there, and back then you noticed how there was something about him, he was going to have a good career.”

“It started here in Jersey and he was great for us in Tampa helping us to win two Cups, and I wish him the best of luck in Calgary. He earned that payday.”

Honestly, it was so weird to hear Gionta say ‘for us in Tampa’ because I’ll always think of him as a New Jersey Devil. But, it is awesome to see good people doing well for themselves, and was pretty damn cool that he recognized me with a mask on!